Udupi: A Unique Independence Day Celebrations held in Shirva

By Pundalika Marate
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 16 August, 2013 : It’s a great occasion to celebrate sixty-seventh Independence Day across the country….!  Decorate flag-hoisting-pole…singing national anthem...distributing sweets and eating too..!  Meanwhile, a few youth organizations are organizing games, patriotic songs singing competition or voluntary service in the neighbourhood, etc and etc on August 15 every year.  It’s all forgotten later, and will only remember when August 15 comes in following year……….?. If you ask the modern youth about the freedom fighters, their struggle, sacrifices, family situations, etc, none of them are not able to say a little about them………! Because the elders have not informed them anything about them…!

 

 

 

Meanwhile, a veteran social activist Anantaraya Shenoy, native of Shirva, near here was committed to celebrate Independence Day in an unique manner to educate the youth on the great Indian culture, traditions, simplicity, patriotism, sacrifices during freedom struggle, as the youth of today who can talk about cricket, movies, mobile phones, facebook, crime etc for hours-together.

 

Shenoy has put up a huge hoarding that was painted with Mother India and onto the right side there is the description and pictures of freedom fighters, distinguished Indians who strived for revival of national culture, at his premises, Patanjali Swadeshi Kendra that is located in Shirva gram panchayat building, near here.  He was found inviting the people to pay homage to the great Indians in his mission to get the message across to masses. 

 

There were pictures of great Indian scientist, mathematician Aryabhata, economist Chanakya, Shivaji Maharaj, Swami Vivekanand, heroic Indian queens Jhansi Rani Laxmibai, Kittoor Chennamma and Rani Abbakka, Sangolli Rayanna, Veer Savarkar, Balagangadhar Tilak, Chandrashekar Azad, Ramapratap Bismilla, Ashpak Ulla Khan, Bahadur Jaffer, Subaschandra Bose, Madan Lal Dingra, Rajeev Dixit, ………. and the list goes on. 

 

All those who offered public homage to great Indian souls were so moved, some of them became emotional with tears rolling in their cheeks.

 

Let us hope that the unique and meaningful Independence Day celebration becomes a role model for others to follow in the future.